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Abstract: Lithium-rich layered cathode Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 is synthesized by a co-precipitation method followed by high-temperature treatment and surface coated with different amount of amorphous FePO4. The microstructure and electrochemical performance of the as-prepared cathode materials are investigated systematically. It is demonstrated that the Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 particles are uniformly coated with amorphous FePO4. With proper amount of amorphous FePO4 coating layer, significant improvements in discharge capacity, initial Coulombic efficiency, rate capability, cycle performance, and thermal stability are achieved at room temperature. Specifically, the 3 wt.% FePO4-coated cathode exhibits the highest discharge specific capacities (271.7 mAh g−1 at C/20), improved initial Coulombic efficiency (85.1%), and best cyclability (discharge capacity of 202.6 mAh g−1 at C/2 after 100 cycles), while the 1 wt.% FePO4-coated cathode displays the best rate capability (194.3 mAh g−1 at 1 C rate and 167.9 mAh g−1 at 2 C rate). The charge–discharge curves and electrochemical impedance spectra reveal that the improved electrochemical performances are due to the suppression of both the oxygen vacancy elimination at the end of the first charge and side reactions of the cathode with the electrolyte, as well as the decrease in charge transfer polarization by the FePO4 coating layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are added in order to investigate their influence on the electronic conductivity of LiFePO4 cathode. CNTs/LiFePO4 composites are prepared by in-situ chemical vapor deposition method and the traditional mechanical mixture method respectively in order to investigate the influence of CNTs as an additive on the electrochemical performance of LiFePO4 cathode. The particle morphology and electrochemical performances of the CNTs/LiFePO4 composites are characterized and compared with commercial cathodes, LiFePO4 mixed with carbon black. The in-situ synthesized CNTs/LiFePO4 composite by chemical vapor deposition method maintains full retaining ratio after 100 cycles at 1C and 94.5% retention after 20 cycles at 10C, which precede the CNTs/LiFePO4 composite fabricated by the mechanical mixture method as well as the commercial cathode. The enhanced electrochemical performance is due to the excellent interface bonding between LiFePO4 and CNT in in-situ synthesized CNTs/LiFePO4 composites. The interface benefits the electronic conductivity of the composites, as well as the polarization reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]